Automated LCA - A practical solution for electronics manufacturers?

Abstract

Manufacturers in the electronics industry are faced with product shelf life counted in months (Goeing, 2004). Traditionally, this has made it very difficult to make a life cycle assessment (LCA) of a product, since the product would be obsolete by the time the LCA was completed. New concepts in LCA allow specialists in things other than LCA to rapidly create both a model and generate "what-if" scenarios that will allow even manufacturers of short shelf life products take advantage of the benefits of LCA. Results can be used internally for decision-making and can also enable manufacturers submit information for environmentally preferable purchasing, eco-labels, and so-on.